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Embera Culture: Explore Chagres National Park
5.0
64 Ratings
Panama City
Explore Embera culture and Chagres waterfalls. Join a shared tour from Panama City for an unforgettable adventure and cultural immersion.
Explore Embera culture and Chagres waterfalls. Join a shared tour from Panama City for an unforgettable adventure and cultural immersion.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Panama City - Travel along the highway to reach the tribe or Chagres National Park.
- Avenida Balboa - Enjoy a drive along the stunning road by the city skyline.
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Chagres National Park - Expansive natural area covering over 320,000 acres adjacent to the Panama Canal’s Gatun & Alajuela Lakes, featuring rivers and lush rainforests.
-…
- Panama City - Travel along the highway to reach the tribe or Chagres National Park.
- Avenida Balboa - Enjoy a drive along the stunning road by the city skyline.
- Chagres National Park - Expansive natural area covering over 320,000 acres adjacent to the Panama Canal’s Gatun & Alajuela Lakes, featuring rivers and lush rainforests.
- Chagres River - Experience the Chagres River by navigating it on a “Piragua,” a traditional indigenous boat. Enjoy a 20-minute journey to a breathtaking waterfall with gentle mountain river currents.
- Panama Canal - Take a quick drive near the Panama Canal, where the Chagres River feeds the impressive man-made Gatun Lake.
- Comunidad Embera Tusipono - A welcoming community with friendly people focused on customer service. They offer a warm reception to all visitors, along with a delightful lunch and cultural presentations including speeches and dances.
- Cinta Costera - Drive along the picturesque road by the Panamanian Pacific bay.
- Casco Viejo - Travel near the historic Casco Antiguo or old town of Panama to drop off the groups.
What's Included
- Lunch with fresh tropical fruits, fried fish tilapia, and fried plantains
- Water bottles, juices, and soda included
- Bilingual tour guide fluent in English and Spanish
- Air-conditioned vehicle for round trip transportation
- Lunch with fresh tropical fruits, fried fish tilapia, and fried plantains
- Water bottles, juices, and soda included
- Bilingual tour guide fluent in English and Spanish
- Air-conditioned vehicle for round trip transportation
What's Not Included
- Embera Community Fee ($30 per adult/youth, $15 per kid)
- Embera Community Fee ($30 per adult/youth, $15 per kid)
Additional Information
Explore an Embera community in Chagres National Park/River and embark on an unforgettable adventure. This journey is just a 1-hour drive from Panama City. Delight in a serene canoe ride along the river. Trek to the enchanting “La Bonita” waterfall and immerse yourself in nature. Visit the welcoming Embera people, who will be thrilled to greet you. Our…
Explore an Embera community in Chagres National Park/River and embark on an unforgettable adventure. This journey is just a 1-hour drive from Panama City. Delight in a serene canoe ride along the river. Trek to the enchanting “La Bonita” waterfall and immerse yourself in nature. Visit the welcoming Embera people, who will be thrilled to greet you. Our knowledgeable Panamanian tour guides, fluent in both English and Spanish, will provide an insightful overview of the culture and explain the interconnectedness of the river, rainforest, Embera people, and the canal. Join this incredible experience to dine with the locals, learn about their traditions, enjoy their traditional dances, and create lasting memories as you dance the Rumba Embera with them.
- Are there any additional cash charges I should be aware of? Yes, the Embera Tribe Fee ($30 per Adult/Youth and $15 per Kid, Infants do not pay)
Location
Panama City
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(64 Ratings)
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Roving288458
Apr 24, 2025
Worth the journey - Visiting the Embera tribe with Exp, having Orlando as our guide was phenomenal. Learning about the rich culture, seeing the similarities, and respecting the variances among the tribal and city residents was amazing. Orlando was prompt picking up, very communicative via WhatsApp and helpful during the tour. He made sure our group felt at ease throughout the day. He was also extra helpful as we navigated the local terrain over the river and through the forestry to the water falls and back. We were able to take pictures along the way, participate in Embera tribal activities and enjoy fresh food prepared in the village. I highly recommend this your if you enjoy learning about other rich cultures and want a friendly, knowledgeable guide that speaks fluent English and Spanish.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Excursion37384052852
Apr 22, 2025
Great Guides, Beautiful Village and Waterfall! - 4 of us took the private tour and it was fantastic! Our guide, Orlando, was great he was able to answer all of our questions about the local tribes and Panama history. He introduced us to some new delicious fruits, helped the least sporty of us climb up to the best spot on the waterfall and took some great photos for us. Our indiginous boat pilot and guide from the Tusibono Village who joined us on our boat ride and hike to the waterfall were gracious and super helpful in making sure we knew where to trek and got there safely. The private tour was definitely worth it! We had our own boat and so many chances to ask questions. The village visit was informative and taught us about the local crafts and how the people live. We also had a delicuous lunch, a dance show and a chance to walk around the village. This was a highlight of our trip. Book it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J8982sleds
Apr 22, 2025
Excellent Embera & Chagres tour with Orlando - Orlando was a fantastic guide. He is very knowledgeable about Panamanian culture and helped us get a personal understanding of the Charges region and the Embera culture. We appreciated his friendliness and ability to communicate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nish
Mar 21, 2025
Wonderful experience - Wonderful learning experience
We were picked up at hotel on time, transported and returned in a nice van. Orlando accommodated our veg food needs during the day and led us on a fun experience. The waterfall hike was great and our visit with the Embera people was special. Orlando has a great personality and shared a lot about life in Panama.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
27luvtotravel
Mar 21, 2025
Great Time even in the Rain! - Even with some crazy rainy weather (which Orlando was prepared with ponchos) - we had a blast with Orlando! Pickup and Pre Communication worked out well. Clear instructions and requests from him. Our ride to the river was informative as well. The Canoe rides, Waterfall and the Embera Village are not be missed! Orlando was sought out by the guides and the head of the Village for his sharing of great information. Def would recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nimesh
Mar 21, 2025
Excellent Tour of the Tribe - Orlando was amazing. He truly knew the history and the tribe members. I learned much and enjoyed the time. Fully recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alma
Mar 21, 2025
Amazing Experience with Orlando! - We had a wonderful day exploring the Emberá tribe with Orlando as our guide. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure our family had a fun and memorable experience. From the boat ride to the village to learning about the Emberá culture, everything was well-organized and engaging. Orlando’s passion for sharing this unique experience truly made the tour special. Highly recommend him for anyone looking for an authentic and enjoyable adventure in Panama.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
931elviap
Mar 17, 2025
A day with the Embera Tribe of Panama - Our tour guide, Orlando, was an excellent host, very knowledgeable with the customs, language, and traditions of the Embera tribe. He picked us up from our hotel and drove us to the Chagres River where our boat was already waiting for us. He ensured to bring water and sodas. Since we were going to be fed fish by the tribe, Orlando brought chicken in case a person in the group did not eat fish. He was attentive to everyone, taking pictures, helping during the hiking through the rainforest towards the waterfall. He has a joyful personality and a very welcoming smile. His pride for his country was felt throughout the entire tour. I would recommend him and the tour company if you are visiting Panama.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
703gs
Mar 17, 2025
#1 Authentic Indigenous Tour - This is an authentic embera lifestyle tour. Orlando taught us some of the native language going in you can tell he is well respected amongst the tribe. The entire tour is very grounding and simple. We visited a refreshing water fall, engaged in dancing, and ate foods prepared with their fruits and spices. Everything was amazing! In the end we also were able to purchase hand made crafts and statues from items found in the jungle. I am a collector of original high quality wood art and this was a real treat.
I was going to pass on this at first due to reviews of non authentic tours but im glad I met Orlando during our city tour!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donhe7288to
Mar 14, 2025
Great Day - Our guide Orlando made it a very special day for us. He looked after all the little details and allowed us to enjoy the scenery and the day.
The waterfall was beautiful and the native Panamanians were very welcoming!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
